Mop frame

ABSTRACT

A mop frame with a universally connected handle, the frame being adaptable to mop material in sheet form which is folded over the edges of the frame and clamped down by opposed hinged clamps held down by lock strips which straddle the hinge points of the clamps.

United States Patent 1 Allaire et a1.

[ 1 Sept. 24, 1974 MOP FRAME [76] Inventors: Eugene Joseph Allaire, 5525 Trent Ave., Apt. 207; Eugene Paradis, 4933 Coolbrook, both of Montreal, Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: Feb. 8, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 330,739

[52] US. Cl 15/150, 15/144 A, 15/231 [51] Int. Cl A471 13/252 Field of Search 15/147 R, 147 A, 147 C,

15/150, 228, 229 A, 229 B, 229 AP, 229 BP, 231, 232, 233; 51/391-393 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,205,979 11/1916 Dohm 15/231 UX 1,709,331 4/1929 Waters 15/231 2,402,069 6/1946 Minnick et al 15/233 UX 2,861,287 11/1958 Scalf 15/231 X 3,295,155 1/1967 Belsky et a1. 15/147 A Primary ExaminerDaniel Blum Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bacon & Thomas [5 7 ABSTRACT A mop frame with a universally connected handle, the frame being adaptable to mop material in sheet form which is folded over the edges of the frame and clamped down by opposed hinged clamps held down by lock strips which straddle the hinge points of the clamps.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures MOP FRAME The present invention relates to a mop frame which may be used either as a dust mop or as a wet mop.

Conventional mop frame and mop combinations require a specially shaped mop head which is made to fit specifically only one type of frame. Expecially in the case of dust mops the mop head becomes charged with dust and has tobe, removed from the mop and washed, which is a highly inconvenient operation since the mop is too dirty to be washed together with other items. The mop also wears out rather quickly and has to be frequently replaced, which is inconvenient since exactly the right kind of mop has to be used, and is also expensive because the mop is a specially manufactured item of a particular configuration. The production of the specific mop and frame combination may also be suspended, so that the mop head may no longer be available on the market and the frame is thus rendered useless.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide a mop frame which can use as a mop head any replaceable material that can be discarded after a few uses, or washed if need be.

The invention accordingly provides a mop frame adaptable to mop material in sheet form, comprising a frame having opposite sides over which the mop material is folded, a handle connected to the frame, a plurality of pairs of clamps hinged centrally on the frame and engageable with the sides of the frame, and a lock associated with each clamp pair straddling the hinge point of each pair of clamps and removably maintaining the Still according to the invention each clamp has a terminal portion overlying the lateral rod and a projecting portion generally perpendicular to the terminal portion and located in clamped position internally of and adjacent the lateral rod, to ensure positive clamping of the mop material onto the frame.

According to one feature of the invention each lock comprises a strip pivotally connected to one clamp of each pair for rotation in a plane parallel to the one clamp between a lateral position wherein the strip clears the other clamp of each pair and a transverse position wherein the strip overlies the other clamp. Further according to this feature of the invention a wing screw connects the strip to the one clamp to loosen the strip and facilitate turning thereof and to tighten the strip into the clamp locking position.

According to another feature of the invention each lock comprises a strip, a tubular portion connected to the strip and slidably mounted on the hinge rod, the strip being slidable between a position wherein the strip clears the pair of clamps and a position wherein the strip overlies both clamps of the pair.

Further according to the invention two of the cross members are adjacently located at the center of the frame, a connector is pivoted to the two cross members for rotation about an axis parallel to the hinge rodand has a hinge portion perpendicular to that axis, and a bent strip has its central portion rotatably mounted on the hinge portion and engages opposite sides of the handle and is bolted thereto. This arrangement provides a universal joint between handle and mop frame to allow the handle to be pivoted in mutually perpendicular planes with respect to the frame.

Preferrred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the mop according to a first embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the mop of FIG. 1 in assembled condition.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the mop according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a mop apcording to a second embodiment on an enlarged scale and in assembled condition.

Referring to FIG. 1 the mop frame comprises a pair of lateral parallel rods 10 connected at the ends by cross members 12 constituted by semi-circular continuations of rods 10. An additional upwardly arched cross member 14 is connected to rods 10 in from either end, roughly a quarter of the way along the longitudinal extent of rods 10. Two more upwardly arched cross members 16 are connected to rods 10 centrally thereof and closely spaced. Cross members 14 and 16 are provided with bent end portions 18 which lie along the interior of rods 10 to increase the joint surface between the cross members 14 and 16 and the rods 10. The bent portionsl8 are welded or otherwise secured to rods 10.

Cross members 16 are provided at the center with bearing holes in which are rotatably mounted the alined free ends 20 (FIG. 4) of a bent wire connector 22 having a central hinge portion perpendicular to the axis of ends 20. A bent strap 24 is formed at the center with a pivoting portion 26 rotatably mounted on the hinge portion of connector 22. The ends 28 of the bent strap 24 are inwardly concave to embrace the terminal part of a handle 30 and are secured to the handle by a bolt 32 and wing nut 34. The arrangement is such that the handle can rotate in mutually perpendicular planes with respect to the mop frame and can be removed if desired for replacement purposes. The universal pivoting arrangement facilitates handling of the mop and makes it easier to store it by allowing the handle to be folded to be along the frame.

A hinge rod 36 is centrally located in the frame between rods 10 by being connected at the ends to crossmembers 12. Along hinge rod 36 are disposed a number of pairs of clamps. Each pair comprises two clamps 38, 40 extending on opposite sides of the hinge rod 36. The clamps are made of sheet metal turned to form at the inner end of the clamp a tubular portion 42 which is rotatably mounted on the hinge rod. The tubular pertions of the two clamps 38 and 40 of each pair mesh alternately in the manner of a door hinge.

The clamps are dimensioned so that their outer margins overlie the rods 10 on the top side of the frame. A central portion 44 of the margin of each clamp is bent downwardly to lie adjacent and internally of the rod 10.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 one clamp of each pair carries a lock strip 46 pivotally connected thereto for rotation in a plane parallel to the clamp 38 by means of a wing screw 48 which screws into a threaded hole in the clamp. Strip 46 can be rotated between a lateral position shown in HO. 1 wherein the strip 46 clears the other clamp 40 and both clamps can be freely rotated about the hinge rod 36, and a transverse position wherein the strip 46 straddles the hinge rod 36 and tubular portions 42 and overlies the other clamp 40 so as to hold both clamps of the pair in locked position with their outer margins in pressure engagement with rods 10.

ln the embodiment of FIG. 4 a lock strip 50 is provided for each pair of clamps. Strip 50 is integral with a tubular portion 52 which is slidably mounted on the hinge rod 36 between a position shown in dotted lines wherein the strip 50 clears both clamps 38 and 40 and a position shown in full lines wherein the strip 50 overlies both clamps and straddles the rod 36 and tubular portions 42 of the clamps, to hold the clamps forcibly against the rods 10.

One or more pieces of mop material can be used with the mop frame according to the invention. The mop material 54 is cut to a roughly rectangular shape of suitable dimension. lf no material of sufficient length is available, two pieces can be used side by side. The mop material may consist of scrap carpeting or any other suitable fabric or other material.

The mop material 54 is laid flat on the floor and the frame is placed on it. The overlapping edges of the mop material are folded over the rods and clamps 38, 40 are pressed down and locked in position by means of lock strips 46 or 50.

In the case ofthe first embodiment, loosening of wing screw 48 facilitates rotation of strip 46 into or out of locking position. Once the locking position has been attained the wing screw 48 can be tightened down to increase the clamping effect.

In the clamped position the mop material is securely held in place by the bent portion 44 which wraps the material nearly completely around rod 10.

We claim:

1. A mop frame adapted to hold mop material in sheet form. comprising a frame having opposite sides over which the mop material is folded.

a handle connected to said frame,

a plurality of pairs of clamps hinged centrally on said frame about a common pivot axis and the clamps of each pair being engageable with said sides of said frame,

and a substantially rigid movable lock member associated with each clamp pair extending across the common pivot axis of each pair of clamps and removably maintaining said clamps in pressure engagement with said frame sides, said lock member being movable to a position free of at least one of said clamps whereby said clamps may swing about their common pivot axis and away from said frame.

2. A mop frame according to claim 1, wherein said framecomprises a pair of lateral generally parallel rods, cross members connecting said rods, a central hinge rod connected to some of said cross-members, said clamp members being pivotally mounted on said hinge rod.

3. A mop frame according to claim 2, wherein each clamp has a terminal portion overlying said lateral rod and a projecting portion generally perpendicular to said terminal portion located in clamped position internally of and adjacent said lateral rod.

4. A mop frame according to claim 3, wherein each said lock member comprises a strip pivotally connected to one clamp of each clamp pair for rotation in a plane parallel to said common pivot axis between a lateral position wherein said strip clears the other clamp of each pair and a transverse position wherein said strip overlies said other clamp.

5. A mop frame according to claim 4, wherein a wing screw connects said strip to said one clamp.

6. A mop frame according to claim 3, wherein each said lock member comprises a strip, a tubular portion connected to said strip and slidably mounted on said hinge rod, said strip being slidable between a position wherein said strip clears said pair of clamps and a position wherein said strip overlies both clamps of said pair.

7. A mop frame according to claim 2, wherein two of said cross members are adjacently located at the center of said frame, a connector is pivoted to said two cross members for rotation about an axis parallel to said hinge rod and has a hinge portion perpendicular to said axis, and a bent strap has its central portion rotatably mounted on said hinge portion and engages opposite sides of said handle and is bolted thereto. 

1. A mop frame adapted to hold mop material in sheet form, comprising a frame having opposite sides over which the mop material is folded, a handle connected to said frame, a plurality of pairs of clamps hinged centrally on said frame about a common pivot axis and the clamps of each pair being engageable with said sides of said frame, and a substantially rigid movable lock member associated with each clamp pair extending across the common pivot axis of each pair of clamps and removably maintaining said clamps in pressure engagement with said frame sides, said lock member being movable to a position free of at least one of said clamps whereby said clamps may swing about their common pivot axis and away from said frame.
 2. A mop frame according to claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a pair of lateral generally parallel rods, cross members connecting said rods, a central hinge rod connected to some of said cross-members, said clamp members being pivotally mounted on said hinge rod.
 3. A mop frame according to claim 2, wherein each clamp has a terminal portion overlying said lateral rod and a projecting portion generally perpendicular to said terminal portion located in clamped position internally of and adjacent said lateral rod.
 4. A mop frame according to claim 3, wherein each said lock member comprises a strip pivotally connected to one clamp of each clamp pair for rotation in a plane parallel to said common pivot axis between a lateral position wherein said strip clears the other clamp of each pair and a transverse position wherein said strip overlies said other clamp.
 5. A mop frame according to claim 4, wherein a wing screw connects said strip to said one clamp.
 6. A mop frame according to claim 3, wherein each said lock member comprises a strip, a tubular portion connected to said strip and slidably mounted on said hinge rod, said strip being slidable between a position wherein said strip clears said pair of clamps and a position wherein said strip overlies both clamps of said pair.
 7. A mop frame according to claim 2, wherein two of said cross members are adjacently located at the center of said frame, a connector is pivoted to said two cross members for rotation about an axis parallel to said hinge rod and has a hinge portion perpendicular to said axis, and a bent strap has its central portion rotatably mounted on said hinge portion and engages opposite sides of said handle and is bolted thereto. 